''Microcoelia exilis'', commonly known as the pinhead orchid, is a

species In biology, a species is the basic unit of Taxonomy (biology), classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of ...

flowering plant Flowering plants are plants that bear flowers and fruits, and form the clade Angiospermae (), commonly called angiosperms. They include all forbs (flowering plants without a woody stem), grasses and grass-like plants, a vast majority of ...

in the orchid family,

Orchidaceae Orchids are plants that belong to the family Orchidaceae (), a diverse and widespread group of flowering plants with blooms that are often colourful and fragrant. Along with the Asteraceae, they are one of the two largest families of flowering ...

. It is a leafless epiphyte, a perennial herb that grows in a tangled cluster of roots and stems on the branch of a tree. This orchid is native to tropical central and eastern Africa and was first described in 1830 by the English botanist

John Lindley John Lindley FRS (5 February 1799 – 1 November 1865) was an English botanist, gardener and orchidologist. Early years Born in Catton, near Norwich, England, John Lindley was one of four children of George and Mary Lindley. George Lindley ...

Description

The stem is up to long and in diameter. The much-branched aerial roots may be either broad or slender and form a tangled mass; many are not attached to the substrate. There are no true leaves but scale leaves are up to long, and are either beak-like or the apex tapers to a long point; they each have five to eight nerves. There may be multiple

inflorescence An inflorescence is a group or cluster of flowers arranged on a stem that is composed of a main branch or a complicated arrangement of branches. Morphologically, it is the modified part of the shoot of seed plants where flowers are formed ...

s up to long, either erect or arching. Each inflorescence has fifty or more minute white flowers with yellowish-green, globose

spur A spur is a metal tool designed to be worn in pairs on the heels of riding boots for the purpose of directing a horse or other animal to move forward or laterally while riding. It is usually used to refine the riding aids (commands) and to ba ...

Distribution and habitat

''Microcoelia exilis'' is native to tropical central and eastern Africa. Its range includes Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique and South Africa. It grows on the small branches and twigs of trees (or occasionally on rocks) in gallery forests, woodland, secondary forests and plantations, at elevations of up to about .

Ecology

In the

Southern African Sand Forest Southern African Sand Forest is a sand forest, or a subtropical forest plant community of the tropical and subtropical dry broadleaf forests biome. It grows on ancient sand dunes in northern KwaZulu-Natal and southern Mozambique. In South A ...

, a region of ancient

dune A dune is a landform composed of wind- or water-driven sand. It typically takes the form of a mound, ridge, or hill. An area with dunes is called a dune system or a dune complex. A large dune complex is called a dune field, while broad, fl ...

s in southern Mozambique and northern KwaZulu-Natal, trees such as ''

Newtonia hildebrandtii ''Newtonia hildebrandtii'', the Lebombo wattle ( af, Lebombowattel, zu, Umfomothi), is a medium-sized tree native to eastern Africa. It is a protected tree in South Africa. Description ''Newtonia hildebrandtii'' is a medium-sized tree growing ...

'', ''

Cola greenwayi ''Cola greenwayi'', commonly known as hairy cola or Zulu coshwood, is a species of flowering plant in the family Malvaceae. It was first described in 1956 by the British botanist John Patrick Micklethwait Brenan. It is native to southeastern Afri ...

'' and ''

Drypetes arguta ''Drypetes arguta'', commonly known as the water ironplum, is a species of small tree or large bush in the family Putranjivaceae. It is native to tropical East Africa. It was first described in 1920 by the English botanist John Hutchinson, who ...

'' are swathed in epiphytes including ''Microcoelia exilis'', and ''

Usnea ''Usnea'' is a genus of mostly pale grayish-green fruticose lichens that grow like leafless mini- shrubs or tassels anchored on bark or twigs.Field Guide to California Lichens, Stephen Sharnoff, Yale University Press, 2014, The genus is in t ...

'' and other species of lichen.

Culivation

This orchid is sometimes cultivated as a

houseplant A houseplant, sometimes known as a pot plant, potted plant, or an indoor plant, is an ornamental plant that is grown indoors. As such, they are found in places like residences and offices, mainly for decorative purposes. Common houseplants are us ...

, attached to a twig and misted at intervals. Trade in this orchid is regulated under

CITES Appendix II CITES (shorter name for the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, also known as the Washington Convention) is a multilateral treaty to protect endangered plants and animals from the threats of interna ...

References

* * {{Taxonbar, from=Q15474328 Orchids of Africa Angraecinae Plants described in 1830